Dirk Nowitzki Q&A: Mavericks All-Star committed to Dallas

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It was less than two years ago that the Dallas Mavericks were first-time NBA champions. With the front office focusing on the future instead of a chance to repeat with an aging roster, the team made major changes.

According to star Dirk Nowitzki, the franchise actually considered trading him before deciding to get rid of nearly everyone else in hopes of landing a marquee free agent such as Dwight Howard, Deron Williams or Chris Paul.

The plan hasn't worked. Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Rodrigue Beaubois are the only players remaining from the title team, and the struggling Mavericks, who failed to land a major free agent, could miss the playoffs. While Nowitzki is still holding out hope for an “unbelievable” free-agent splash this summer, he has pondered the possible success that was lost after the post-title changes.

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Without Kevin Love, Where do The Timberwolves Go?

On Wednesday afternoon, Yahoo!'s own Marc Spears reported that All-Star power forward Kevin Love will miss 8-to-10 weeks after undergoing hand surgery on the same broken right hand that kept him out of the Minnesota Timberwolves first nine games this season. Love reinjured the hand in a January 3 game against the Denver Nuggets and had already missed the team's last two games as he sought medical opinions and weighed options. This report built off an earlier note from Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com that Love was likely to miss at least three months while rehabbing.

It's obviously bad news for the Wolves, a playoff hopeful that's had to deal with a number of injuries to key players already this season. Will the loss of Love be too much to handle? And what does it mean for a young team that expected to make great strides this season?

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